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CO2 flooding is gaining considerable momentum throughout the world as fields mature and tertiary EOR schemes are considered. As the price of natural gas liquids rises, CO2 becomes increasingly attractive relative to hydrocarbon floods as a miscible flood solvent. There are over 65 field scale CO2 floods in the USA and 4 in Canada. There is considerable momentum building in Canada as the infrastructure is developed which links sources of CO2 with oil pools which are suitable for CO2 flooding (there are over 100 obvious candidates according to our screening). Upcoming regulations, tax incentives and a changing infrastructure will improve the ability to implement a CO2 flood and may provide the long term competitive edge for some companies.
Epic has been involved extensively in CO2 assessments including consulting for the two largest projects in Canada, providing expert services to the DOE and expert witness testimony in civil litigation on CO2 issues, workshops and screening and simulation services to various companies.
In the example shown, a field development plan was required quickly to initiate discussions with CO2 suppliers, pipeline and facilities companies and regulatory agencies. The field had 600 producing wells with 45 years of history and was naturally fractured. To meet the timelines, we used a smaller compositional model (204 wells in 20 patterns) to accurately capture the physics in conjunction with a streamline full field model. The result was a history matched field development plan for 1000 wells (including infills) delivered in five months.
See Epic Written Papers on EOR |
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CO2 field development requires phased approach for larger fields
Phasing of CO2 injection requires consideration of fresh CO2 availability, breakthrough times and volumes and recycle ratios
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